Former U.S. U-20 and Duke University defender Sebastien Ibeagha has signed his first professional contract today as he joined AC Horsens of the second tier Danish 1st Division.

Ibeagha, 22, declined an offer to play for the Houston Dynamo as a homegrown player and instead wanted to pursue an opportunity in Europe. Born in Nigeria, Ibeagha is poised to help an AC Horsens team that is a strong contender for promotion this year.

Today, Ibeagha scored for Horsens in a 3-2 friendly loss to Sonderjyske.

"He has left a very good impression," Horsens head coach Johnny Molby said on the club's website. "He is a young, exciting and physically strong player who among other things has made his name with a quiet game [on the] ball. He has a good potential that we need to work to redeem, and his approach means that we are less vulnerable and have an even better competition for positions in defense. He must of course learn our defense game, because it's different than he has been accustomed to, but we'll teach him."

AC Horsens currently sits in second place in the 1st Division with a two point lead over third place Sikleborg. The top two teams in the league are promoted to the Danish Superliga.

Horsens is current in camp for the Danish winter break. It will resume league play on March 23 when it hosts Vejle.